Kitchen fire at Sonic contained, damage estimated at $15,000

Crews were dispatched to the 900 block of North Valley Drive at 10:06 p.m. Saturday night for a commercial structure fire. The first arriving fire crew saw heavy smoke and moderate flames coming from the kitchen. The blaze was contained within minutes after initial arrival.

Shortly after employees had pulled a double fryer out and placed it back they began to smell a gas odor and then heard a loud "boom" sound, according to a Las Cruces Fire Department news release. The hood suppression system did activate allowing employees to evacuate the building without injury. The restaurant had received plumbing work earlier in the day.

The building suffered moderate fire and moderate smoke damage. Fire official's preliminary damage estimates are at $15,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but is believed to be accidental in nature.